Overloaded motorboat capsizes off Rauma, driver rescued

A motorboat capsized off the coast of Rauma on Wednesday after being overloaded, according to the Finnish Border Guard.

The West Finland Border Guard’s maritime rescue chief, Tomi Maunu, said authorities received a report in the morning of a likely capsized vessel. A witness had initially seen a boat carrying a large load, but soon only the cargo was visible in the water.

A Border Guard helicopter and rescue vessels were dispatched to the scene, where they found the overturned six-metre motorboat with the driver clinging to its side. The driver, who was not wearing a life jacket, was rescued unharmed.

Maunu attributed the capsizing to excessive load, noting that sea conditions were calm with low waves and light winds of about five metres per second.

He urged boaters transporting heavy items, such as construction materials to a cottage, to load vessels safely and make multiple trips rather than risk overloading.